English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

Etymology — The origins of English words

Where do words come from? Trace the origin and history of any English word, from its Latin, Greek or Old English roots through to its modern meaning. Every etymology is sourced.

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From narcotic + -s.

From pot plus -ed. The 'condensed summary' sense grew out of the earlier idea of potted meat, i.e. preserved and compressed food, later applied to compressed information.

From "dwindle," which comes from Old English dwīnan, "to fade away" or "waste."

From Spanish amparo, "protection, shelter".

From Middle French cystique, ultimately from Ancient Greek kystis, "bladder" or "pouch."

"Calm" plus the comparative suffix "-er."

From Greek φρύνη (phrúnē, "toad"), a nickname sometimes given to courtesans.

Formed from jurisdiction plus the adjective-forming suffix -al.

From juice + -d.

From dope + -ing.

A blend of "web" and "cam" (short for "camera").

Spanish · 1993

Named after the 1993 hit song "Macarena" by the Spanish duo Los del Río, itself named for a woman called Macarena.

From "un-" + "mistake" + "-able."

From the verb spring plus the agent suffix -er.

From Arabic jinn, a collective noun for these spirit beings (singular jinnī).

From jitter ("to move nervously") + the adjective suffix -y.

From "jiggle" plus "-y."

Originally a shortening of "butterface" ("nice body, but her face...") plus a slang -s ending.

From gun + slinger (one who "slings", or draws quickly).

From mobile + -y.

From Middle English bloded, equivalent to blood + -ed.

A compound of crew + man.

A compound of "head" and "dress."

From peel (verb) + -ed (suffix forming past tenses).